This study represents the first in-depth investigation of leadership in Australian small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) and was based on a nationwide sample of 655 executives. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire — MLQ (Bass and Avolio, 1997) was used to examine transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership and the outcomes of extra effort and effectiveness. Significant differences among subgroups were identified according to gender, experience and level of seniority. This study is important for establishing new benchmarks for Australian small business leadership as perceived by executives themselves. Implications and directions for further research are examined.
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